My name is Evan Dahm and I would like to illustrate and publish an edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It was published in 1900 and is now in the public domain. I like it a lot and I think I can illustrate it in a way that works with the story and has a visual character that’s distinct from other interpretations.
Here are some early drawings trying to figure out shapes and colors for the characters.
Here’s a recap of the chapter illustrations for chapters 1 through 8 of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the first third of the book! I am very happy with these, and the wide range of color schemes and tones they represent.
I will be done with this project fairly soon, after working on it (off and on) for over a year. 24 full-page illustrations like these, and somewhere around 70 spot illustrations. A print book is being thought of; details will be on this blog before they’ll be anywhere else!
I’ve made 24 full-page illustrations and around 70 spot illustrations to go throughout the complete original text, in a 192-page book. Most of them have been posted on this tumblr. I’ve tried to support the text without distracting from it, and I’ve emphasized the sense of being lost in a strange, colorful place. I’m really happy with how it’s turned out so far, and having it as a nice printed book has always been an exciting possibility!! It is looking like a thing that will probably happen, thanks to Make That Thing and YOU YOU YOU
Many other people than me have illustrated the Wonderful Wizard of Oz! Here are some of them.
W. W. Denslow illustrated the first edition of the book, and set up a look for the characters and setting so iconic and inextricable from the text that they’ve informed most later interpretations, and the two co-held the book’s copyright. Denslow’s background in cartooning is clear in the illustrations, which are dynamic and personable and look more modern than they are, I think.
The Folio Society published an edition of the book illustrated by Sara Ogilvie recently. I really love the texture and simple treatment of color in these, and the design of the book and slipcase is just absurdly fancy, which is good.
Spanish illustrator Juliá Sardà did a series of lush painted illustrations for the book, which I only just found. They seem to be for a print edition but I dunno?
An edition illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger was published in the 90s. This was the only edition I’d seen when I started this project, and I really love it. Zwerger’s illustrations are all watercolor, and emphasize a dreamy distance that I think can be read into the text. Much less character-focused and dynamic than a lot of interpretations, but I think that’s ok. Also the book came with a pair of green glasses to wear while reading the Emerald City parts which is a VERY COOL IDEA. It’s out of print but there’s a lot more art here.
There are many more. It’s fun to see how many distinct angles can be taken with illustrating this text– it’s written in a way that’s kind of loose and mythic. I’ve tried to support what I feel is important in the story with my own illustrations, and have ended up emphasizing my own personal angle on the text. I am running a Kickstarter to publish my own illustrated version. Did you see that I’m doing that
The revelation of the real Wizard of Oz, and his rewards for the Woodman, the Scarecrow, and the Lion. These are from chapter 16; I skipped ahead a bit.
The books will be in Kickstarter backers’ hands and available for sale very soon, so I thought now would be the time to make the ebook of the illustrated Wizard of Oz available!
The Cowardly Lion was much pleased to hear that the Wicked Witch had been melted by a bucket of water, and Dorothy at once unlocked the gate of his prison and set him free. They went in together to the castle, where Dorothy’s first act was to call all the Winkies together and tell them that they were no longer slaves.
Chapter 13! Dorothy triumphant! I loved drawing all of these Winkies. One more chapter takes place in Winkie-land, so I get to develop it a little more, and then we’re back to the City and then to the south. Over halfway done with the illustrations.
The THIRD book of my webcomic series Vattu is finally available in print, with Topatoco. Really happy with how it turned out!!!
I’m mere days from finishing work on Island Book 2, and then will get back to updating Vattu online– now into its FINAL BOOK, and things are really starting to come together. Hope you can follow along!!! thank y’all